An Application of the Analytic Element Method to the Cross Sectional Modeling of Levee Seepage from the Everglades National Park

The maintenance of target water levels within the Everglades National Park (ENP) is a critical component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. However, within the eastern ENP, maintaining surface water levels can be difficult at times due to the large volumes of surface water that seep into the surficial aquifer and out of the Everglades through ground water flow underneath the boundary levees. In recent years, the analytic element method has been demonstrated to be an effective and convenient tool for developing cross sectional ground water flow models near levees that border wetlands. In this paper, we demonstrate its application to a cross sectional model of the complex ground water flow system underneath levee L-3 IN, which separates the ENP from the developed Miami area. This analytic element model proved to be useful in developing a better understanding of the seepage process. Additionally, the model was used to develop a linear relationship between seepage rates and wetland water levels, borrow canal stages and ambient ground water levels. It was concluded that the analytic element method is a highly effective tool for estimating seepage quantities from the types impounded wetlands that play a critical role in Everglades restoration.